FAQ

Q. What is NSKFDC?

A. NSKFDC stands for National Safai Karmacharis Finance & Development Corporation. NSKFDC was set up as a Company “Not for Pprofit” under section 25 of the erstwhile Companies Act, 1996 (now Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013) on 24th January, 1997 by Government of India under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It is a wholly owned Government of India Undertaking and has an authorized share capital of Rs. 600 crores.

Q. What is the address of NSKFDC?

A. The office of NSKFDC is located in New Delhi. The complete address and phone numbers are as under:-Address:B-2, Ground Floor & First Floor, Greater Kailash Enclave Part II,
New Delhi-110048
Phone : 011-29216330,29221331
Fax: 29222708
E-mail: nskfdc-msjenicin
Website:http://www.nskfdc.nic.in

Q. Why was it set up?

A. It was set up as an Apex Corporation for the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependants across the country by providing loans at concessional Interest rates for any viable income generating activities as also Skill Development Training to the target group for enhancing their capabilities for job/self employment.

Q. Why is there a separate Corporation for Safai Karamcharies?

A. Concerned with the obnoxious and inhumane occupation performed from generation to generations by Safai Karamcharies, Scavengers and their dependants, who are the most down- trodden section of the society and are the poorest among the poor and suffer from low social status, the Government of India has set up a separate Corporation for their socio-economic upliftment so as to enable them lead a dignified life and join the main stream of the society.

OBJECTIVES OF NSKFDC

Q. What is the primary objective of NSKFDC?

A. The primary objective of NSKFDC is to uplift the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependants socially and economically so as to enable them lead a dignified life and join the main stream of the society.

Q. Why are the Safai Karamcharis and Scavengers given loan?

A. Loans are provided to the Safai Karamcharis, Scavenegers and their dependants to enable them break away from the traditional occupation of scavenging and take up alternative and dignified occupations. Loans are provided to them to enable them for starting income generating activities, which will help in their socio-economic upliftment.

Q. Why are the dependants of Safai Karamcharis and Scabbengers also given loans?

A. The Government of India intends to break the traditional link of certain caste/communities with the occupation of being engaged in, or employed for, manually carrying human excreta or any sanitation work which has been continuing from generations to generations. This can be achieved if the dependants of the Safai Karamcharis/Scavengers are also empowered to take up alternative and dignified occupations through loans from NSKFDC with training in skills and trades, wherever required, so that they do not fall prey to economic compulsions of taking up the traditional occupation of scavenging.

ABOUT SCAVENGING

Q. What can NSKFDC do for the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependants?

A. NSKFDC is promoting socio-economic development of the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependants by providing concessional financial assistance for any viable income generating self- employment ventures under its various loan based schemes and programmes and Education loan for pursuing higher education in India and abroad. NSKFDC is also providing skill development training to the target for enhancing their capabilities for job/self employment.

DEFINITION OF SCAVENGERS

Q. What is the definition of Manual Scavenger?

A. A person engaged or employed by an individual or a local authority or an agency or a contractor, for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta in an insanitary latrine or in an open drain or pit into which the human excreta from the insanitary latrines is disposed of, or on railway track or in such other spaces or premises, as the Central Government or a State Government may notify, before the excreta fully decomposes in such a manner as may be prescribed, and the expression ‘’Manual Scavenging” shall be construed accordingly -
a) “engaged or employed’’ means being engaged or employed on a regular or contract basis;
b) a person engaged or employed to clean excreta with the help of such devices and using such protective gear, as the Central Government may notify in this behalf, shall not be deemed to be a ‘manual scavenger’.

DEFINITION OF SAFAI KARAMCHARI

Q. What is the definition of Safai Karamcharis?

A. Safai Karamchari means a person engaged in, or employed for any sanitation work and includes his/her dependants.

ABOUT SCHEMES FINANCED BY NSKFDC

Q. What are the types of schemes financed by NSKFDC?

A. Any viable income-generating activity of the beneficiary's preference can be financed by NSKFDC.

Q. Can a beneficiary chose the schemes of his/her preference?

A. Yes. The choice of the scheme is left entirely to the beneficiary. While choosing the scheme, the beneficiary should keep in view his/her aptitude, skills already possessed or skills to be acquired, local environment, market potentials, etc.

Q. To whom are loans given?

A. Loans are given to Safai Karmacharis/scavengers and their dependants, either individually or in groups for any financially viable income generating schemes and projects.

Q. What are the eligibility criteria?

A. Scavenger/Safai Karamchari and their dependents duly identified under the National Scheme for Liberation & Rehabilitation of Scavengers (NSLRS) in a survey/registered co-operative societies of Safai Karamcharis/legally constituted association/firm promoted by the target group and also all those who produce a certificate from local Revenue Officer/local Municipal Officer/Cantonment Executive Officer/Railway Officer, Head of the Govt. Departments (i.e. Schools, Colleges, Forest, Health, Education, Animal Husbandry) having rank not less than Gazetted Officer, Elected Members of Municipal Body & Pradhan of Gram Panchayats for which the State Govt. is required to issue necessary notification, Regional Managers of the Regional Rural Banks/Nationalised Banks. However, under the MS Act, 2013, a person identified as Manual Scavenger in a survey need not to provide any certificate once his/her name appeared in the final list of Manual Scavengers prepared by State/UT Governments.

Q. Who will issue the certificate of being a Scavenger/Safai Karamachari or their dependants?

A. The local Municipal office or a Cantonment Executive Officer of the Cantonment, or an officer of the Railways not below the rank of gazetted officer will issue the certificate of being a Scavenger/Safai Karamchari or their dependants for their employees. The Revenue Officer, not below the rank of gazetted officer, will issue certificate in this regard for those who are employed by other authorities/agencies/offices or who are working in private houses/buildings/establishment.

Q. What procedure will the Revenue officer follow?

A. Procedure to be followed by the Revenue officer for issuing a certificate of being a Scavenger/Safai Karamachari of their dependants, would vary from State to State. He may issue certificate based on the procedures by the State Government/UT administration. It may include carrying out routine verification procedure of obtaining certificate from the village pradhan, pramukh, hospital/hotel/office management etc.

Q. Is the eligibility based on Caste?

A. No. the eligibility is not based on Caste or Caste certificate. Eligibility is based on occupation and to be eligible for financial support from NSKFDC, the person should be a Safai Karmchari or Scavenger or their dependants.

Q. Why is eligibility based on occupation?

A. Since NSKFDC has been established specifically for the purpose of soio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis and their dependants i.e. those who are engaged in sanitation work and the obnoxious and inhumane occupation of manual scavenging irrespective of the caste. Therefore, the eligibility for assistance under the schemes and programmes of NSKFDC is occupation based and not caste based.

Q. Is there are income limit?

A. No income limit is fixed for availing financial assistance.
However, other things being equal, the Company accords priority to economic development and rehabilitation of:
(1) Scavengers, and amongst Scavengers, those Scavengers whose income is below double the property line;
(2) Women form among the target group and
(3) Disabled persons among the target group.

Q. Why is priority given to women?

A. Priority is given to women as it is found that women belonging to Safai Karmchari/Scavenger community are made vulnerable and are compelled to perform the job of carrying of human excreta manually or any sanitation work.

ABOUT TERM LOAN FOR REGULAR SCHEMES

Q. What is the limit of term loan for regular schemes?

A. Term loan assistance is provided for projects costing upto a maximum of Rs. 15 Lakhs.

Q. What should be the quantum of loan?

A. The quantum of loan is upto 90% of the project cost with a maximum of Rs. 15 lacs as per the limits fixed under different schemes.

ABOUT TERM LOAN FOR PURCHASE OF SANITARY EQUIPMENTS

Q. What is the limit of term loan for schemes involving purchase of sanitary waste disposal vehicles and equipments?

A. For the purpose of acquiring vehicles/equipments for removal of sanitary waste and garage, term loan assistance upto a maximum of Rs. 15 Lakhs may be provided.

A. There has been cases where scavengers perform manual scavenging particularly cleaning/clearing septic tanks using buckets as a result they are exposed to hazardous and unhealthy conditions. This is taking place wherever mechanized equipments are either not available or the available machineries are not able to cater to the requirements. Purchase of such machineries is allowed in order to stop manual scavenging.

ABOUT MICRO CREDIT FINANCE (MCF)

Q. Is MCF loan provided by NSKFDC?

A. Yes. Term loan assistance is provided under the Micro Credit Finance (MCF) scheme for starting small and party trade/business and sundry income generating activities upto a maximum of Rs.50000 per beneficiary and upto Rs. 5 lakhs for a group of ten beneficiaries.

Q. What is the extent of loan provided to each beneficiary?

A. The loan provided is restricted upto a maximum of Rs. 50,000/- per beneficiary.

Q. Can SCA implement MCF through NGO/Self Help Group?

A. The SCAs may implement the MCF scheme through reputed NGOs/Self Help Groups.

Q. What is the extent of term loan provided for MCF?

A. Term loan can be provided upto of 90% of the cost of project cost with a maximum of Rs. 50000 and the remaining 10% is to be provided by the SCA in the form of loan or subsidy.

Q. What is the rate of interest payable by beneficiary under MCF?

A. The rate of interest payable is 2% from NSKFDC to SCA and 5% from SCA to beneficiary.

ABOUT MAHILA SAMRIDHI YOJANA (MSY)

Q. Is loan under MSY provided by NSKFDC?

A.Yes. Term loan assistance is provided under Mahila Samridhi Yojna (MSY) for starting small and petty trade/business and sundry income generating activities to women safai karamcharis /scavengers and their dependent daughters,

Q. What is the extent of loan provided to each beneficiary?

A. The loan provided is restricted to 90% of the project cost with a maximum of Rs. 50,000/- per beneficiary.

Q. Can SCAs implement MSY through reputed NGOs/Self Help Groups?

A. The SCAs may implement MSY through reputed NGOs/Self Help Groups.

Q. What is the extent of term loan provided for MSY?

A. Term loan can be provided upto 90% of the cost of project cost with a maximum of Rs. 0000 and the remaining 10% is to be provided by the SCA in the form of loan or subsidy.

Q. What is the rate of interest payable by beneficiary under MSY?

A. The rate of interest payable is 1% from NSKFDC to SCA and 4% from SCA to beneficiary

ABOUT MAHILA ADHIKARITA YOJANA (MAY)

Q. Is loan under MAY provided by NSKFDC?

A. Yes, Loan is provided under Mahila Adhikarita Yojana to Women Safai Karamcharis / Scavenger and their dependent daughters upto 90% of the project cost with a maximum of Rs.75,000/- per beneficiary at an interest rate of 2% from NSKFDC to SCA and 5% from SCA to beneficiary.

ABOUT EDUCATION LOAN

Q. Is Education Loan given?

A. Yes, education loan upto Rs. 10 Lakhs for study in India & Rs. 20 Lakhs for study abroad is extended to students from the community of Safai Karamcharis/Scavengers for pursuing higher professional or technical education.

Q. What is the moratorium period?

A. One year after co-termination of the course for which loan has been obtained.

Q. Why is the moratorium period co-terminus with the course?

A. Moratorium period is Co-terminus with the course as the student would be able to get job employment only after completion of the course and one year period is provided to enable him to settle down in job/self employment ventures.

Q. What is the rate of interest payable by the student?

A.The rate of interest is 1% from NSKFDC to SCA and 4% from SCAs to the beneficiaries. 0.5% rebate in rate of interest is provided to women beneficiaries.

ABOUT WORKING CAPITAL

Q. Is working capital provided?

A. Yes, 100% working capital required by the unit is provided and it should be made part of the unit cost and it is financed as per existing terms and conditions of the term loan.

ABOUT NEW SCHEMES INTRODUCED BY NSKFDC

Q.Any new scheme has been introduced by NSKFDC?

ABOUT SWACHHTA UDYAMI YOJANA

Q. What is the purpose of Swachhta Udyami Yojana?

A. The purpose of Swachhta Udyami Yojana is to provide financial assistance for construction, operation and maintenance of “Pay & Use” Community Toilets in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode and for procurement and operation of sanitation related vehicles.

Q. What is the maximum quantum of assistance provided under Swachhta Udyami Yojana?

A. Loan assistance upto a maximum of Rs. 25 lacs for Pay and Use Toilets and upto Rs. 15 lacs for sanitation related vehicles is provided by NSKFDC.

Q. What is the rate of interested charged underSwachhta Udyami Yojana?

A. The rate of interest charged under the scheme is 4% p.a.

ABOUT SANITARY MARTS SCHEME

Q. What is the purpose of Sanitary Marts Scheme?

A. The purpose of Sanitary Marts Scheme is to provide financial assistance for setting up of sanitary marts – a one stop shop where all the sanitation and hygiene related needs of humans can be met.

Q. What is the maximum quantum of assistance provided under Sanitary Marts Scheme ?

A. Loan assistance upto a maximum of Rs. 15 lacs for setting up of sanitary marts.

Q. What is the rate of interest charged underSanitary Marts Scheme?

A. The rate of interest charged under the scheme is 4% p.a.

About Green Business Scheme

Q. What is the purpose of Green Business Scheme?

A. The purpose of Green Business Scheme is to provide financial assistance for such activities which can mitigate the impact of climate change and also help in income generation.

Q. What is the maximum quantum of assistance provided under Green Business Scheme?

Q. What is the rate of interest charged underSanitary Marts Scheme?

ABOUT OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FINANCED BY NSKFDC

Q. Does NSKFDC finance infrastructure activities?

A. The Corporation can finance infrastructure activities where its development leads directly to income generation like Pay & Use Toilets.

Q. What are the other activities of NSKFDC?

A. To provide training for quality control, technology upgradation, and common facility centres for carrying out sanitation work. NSKFDC also assists in the up-gradation of technical and entrepreneurial skills of persons belonging to the community of Safai Karmcharis or their dependents for proper and efficient management of production and service units set up by them.

Q. Does NSKFDC assist in procurement of raw materials and marketing?

A. Yes, NSKFDC assist self-employed individuals or group of individuals from the community of Safai Karmcharis including their dependants or units/cooperatives set up by them in procurement of raw materials or other outputs and marketing of finished goods or services.

ABOUT TRAINING

Q. Is training provided by NSKFDC?

A. Yes. Financial assistance in the form 100% grant is provided to the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) and Central Government and State Government agencies for imparting skill and entrepreneurial development for Safai Karmcharis and their dependants for enhancing their capabilities for job/self employment in income generating activities in industry, Service & Business sector.

Q. What are the types or training programmes?

Q. What is ILP?

A. Institutional Linkage Programme (ILP) is a training programme under which the eligible candidates sponsored by the SCAs are provided training in specialized trades for a period of one to six months with stipend by reputed training institutes in the country.

Q. What is STP?

A. Skill up-gradation Training Programme (STP) is a training programme under which practicing craftsmen/artisans are provided training for skill upgradation to equip them to the changing market demands. Normally the training is non-residential and the duration of training is upto 2 months.

Q. What is EDP?

A. Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) is a training programme for imparting skills and knowledge to the beneficiaries to equip them to set up their own business. The duration of the training is upto 1 month and normally the programme is non-residential.